Nepal seeks bigger Haj quota

(MENAFN- Arab News) RIYADH: A substantial number of pilgrims from Nepal are expected to perform Umrah during Ramadan and the country has sought a raise in the Haj quota Ambassador Udaya Raj Pandey said here Friday.
'We're expecting hundreds to come for Umrah in Ramadan. We don't have the exact figure because these pilgrims come here on their own and make their own arrangements' he said. The Nepalese ambassador said though that he has talked to some of them and that they were happy regarding the preparations made by the Kingdom.
Pandey said that the embassy has requested the Ministry of Haj to increase its quota from 1000 to 1500 considering the number of Nepalese Muslims which now touches about 1.5 million.
He said that quotas on the number of pilgrims have been imposed due to expansion work in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
'We're hoping that the Saudi authorities will grant our request considering that it also granted our request last year and increased our quota by 200 from 1000 to 1200' he said. He added that other countries have likewise requested that their quotas be increased so that the Saudi authorities will have to sit down and decide on the requests.
Meanwhile he said that the embassy has received a circular from the Ministry of Haj which limits the operations of foreign travel agents during Ramadan only.